New body to run GFA - Government to inform CAF and FIFA

Government has indicated its resolve to "sanitize football administration in the country" by undertaking some reforms in the shortest possible time as a result of the "pervasive rot within the Ghana Football Association (GFA)".

This follows the numerous corruption and bribery cases unearth in the latest exposé by ace investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, together with his investigative firm, Tiger Eye PI and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which focuses on Ghana's football administration.

New Body To Be Formed

According to a statement signed by the Information Minister Mustapha Hamid and copied to Peacefmonline.com, government said it is "shocked and outraged at the contents of the recently-aired video documentary which captures the investigation conducted into football administration...The documentary exposes the gross mal-functioning of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) characterized by widespread fraud, corruption and bribery".

The government has subsequently referred the conduct of all officials of the GFA together with the suspended Acting Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA) Robert Sarfo Mensah to the Police Service.

The statement further indicated that "having regard to the widespread nature of the apparent rot....Government has decided to take immediate steps to have the GFA dissolved. Government will shortly, thereafter, announce provisional measures to govern football activities in the country, until a new body is duly formed;....

"Government will communicate these decisions to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), and engage with them on these developments to chart a way forward for Ghana football".

FIFA Ban Imminent?

Meanwhile, some football analysts argue this decision by government is likely to attract the wrath of the international governing body of association football. According to them, FIFA could ban Ghana as its rules oblige member associations to manage their own affairs "independently and with no influence from third parties."

It would be recalled that in 2014, FIFA suspended Nigeria from all international football amid allegations of government interference in its football federation.

FIFA's decision was made after a court order compelled the Nigerian Minister of Sports to appoint a senior member of the civil service to take over the running of the Nigeria Football Federation.

In 2017, FIFA suspended the Football Associations of Mali, Sudan and Belize, claiming government interference in those FAs.

Full statement below

Possible Effects Of GFA Dissolution On Football In Ghana

A ban would mean no Ghanaian team, including club side, can play in regional, continental or international competitions.

A football association would not exist meaning that all positions held internationally would be lost. So Nyantakyi’s FIFA Council role will be taken away.

An interim body will have to be set up to run football pending a decision from FIFA on the way forward.

Since FIFA frowns on all governmental interference, the most likely action will be a ban as per FIFA regulations. The most recent example is Sudan where Mutaseen Gaafar Serelkhtim was removed by the Sudanese Police.

When he was reinstated, FIFA lifted the ban.

The local league will most likely to be put on hold awaiting decisions to be taken by an interim management body and FIFA. In addition, clubs who are in international tournaments will be kicked out. Aduana is at risk as it is currently in the CAF Confederation Cup.

National teams will not be allowed to take part in international competitions. Ghana’s Black Maidens and Princesses are preparing to take part in the Women’s U17 and U20 World Cup tournaments this year. The Black Queens will also lose their hosting rights for the of the 2018 Women’s AFCON. The ban will also freeze Ghana’s FIFA ranking.